which one of the following steps can shield against discovery of an incident report?

a. conducting a peer review
b. following HIPAA regulations
c. invoking the work product doctrine
d. reporting to the NPDB

I think it's b

What on earth is allied? I've never heard of a school subject called "allied."

To determine which step can shield against the discovery of an incident report, let's examine each option:

a. Conducting a peer review: A peer review is an evaluation of work conducted by professionals in the same field. While a peer review can provide valuable insights and feedback, it typically does not shield against discovery of an incident report.

b. Following HIPAA regulations: HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) regulations are designed to protect the privacy and security of individuals' health information. These regulations provide specific guidelines on how to handle and disclose healthcare information. Following HIPAA regulations can indeed help shield against the discovery of an incident report as it ensures the protection of sensitive patient information.

c. Invoking the work product doctrine: The work product doctrine is a legal principle that encompasses the protection of documents and materials prepared by an attorney in anticipation of litigation. While this principle generally protects attorney work product from being discovered by opposing parties in a legal proceeding, it may not necessarily shield against the discovery of an incident report unless it falls under the scope of attorney work product.

d. Reporting to the NPDB (National Practitioner Data Bank): The NPDB is a federally mandated database that collects and disseminates information on healthcare practitioners' malpractice or adverse actions. Reporting an incident to the NPDB does not shield against the discovery of an incident report by itself.

Based on the explanations above, option b. Following HIPAA regulations is the correct answer. Following HIPAA guidelines and ensuring the proper handling of patient information can help shield against the discovery of an incident report.